How did the artists of the realism movement make people more aware of the harsh conditions of life in the industrial age?

Artists of the realism movement depicted everyday life and social issues with unflinching honesty, focusing on the struggles of the working class and the impact of industrialization. Through detailed and often stark portrayals of laborers, poverty, and urban environments, they highlighted the harsh realities that many faced, challenging the romanticized views of art that preceded them. By capturing these subjects in their true form, realism aimed to evoke empathy and provoke social change, making audiences more aware of the inequalities and hardships of the industrial age.